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Paper No. 88-24
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-5:30 PM
SOUTHERN UTAH ONLINE ROCK DATABASE
Utah is well-known for its remarkable stratigraphy, which attracts a wide range of recreational, academic, and industrial interests. Many people around the world are interested in the stratigraphy in southern Utah because of the unique exposure of an extensive record of the geologic evolution of North America. I constructed an online database of rock samples and corresponding thin section micrographs collected from Mesozoic to Oligocene strata in southern Utah to provide public access to rock samples and thin sections for exploration and analysis of stratigraphic units. Each thin section has a corresponding geographic location, stratigraphic identifier, and a brief description of mineral composition. This data collection has the potential to be used for studies of plate movement, mountain building events, climate change, and the evolution of ancient ecosystems.
This project began in Cedar Canyon (Utah Highway 14), just east of Cedar City, Utah. The area comprises strata from the late Paleozoic through the more recent Cenozoic geologic eras. For this presentation, I also collected multiple samples outside of my study area to expand the range of data collection and demonstrate the broader potential of the resource. The project is the start of a multi-year endeavor that will continue through future generations of undergraduate students at Southern Utah University. As the online database develops over time, it will create an easily accessible worldwide educational asset that showcases the geologic wonders of southern Utah.